Bots: An introduction for developers
FAQ
Apps
API
Protocol
Schema
Bots: An introduction for developers
Bots are
small applications
that run entirely within the Telegram app. Users interact with bots through
flexible interfaces
that can support
any kind of task or service
. For more information, see:
Detailed Guide to Bot Features
Full API Reference for Developers
Basic Tutorial: From @BotFather to 'Hello World'
The
Telegram Bot Platform
hosts more than
10 million
bots and is
free
for both users and developers.
What Can You Do with Bots?
Replace Entire Websites
Natively Integrate AI Chatbots
Manage Your Business
Receive Payments
Create Custom Tools
Integrate with Services and Devices
Host Games
Build Social Networks
Monetize Your Service
Promote Your Project
Anything Else!
Replace Entire Websites
Telegram bots can host
Mini Apps
built with
JavaScript
. This allows for
infinitely flexible
interfaces that can power everything from online stores to arcade games. Unlike websites, bots support
seamless authorization
and notifications through Telegram out of the box.
Try
@DurgerKingBot
– or check out the
dedicated guide to Mini Apps
to build your own.
Natively Integrate AI Chatbots
Bots natively support threaded conversations to manage several different topics in parallel. This is especially useful for building AI chatbots — and lets users easily access information from previous chats.
Instead of waiting for full replies, chatbots can also
stream live responses
as they’re generated.
You can easily enable topics in private chats by toggling on
Threaded Mode
via
@BotFather
This feature is subject to an additional fee for Telegram Star purchases as described in
Section 6.2.6
of our Terms of Service for Bot Developers.
Manage Your Business
Telegram Business
users can connect Telegram bots to process and answer messages
on their behalf
, via their personal account. This allows businesses to
seamlessly integrate
any existing tools and workflows, or add new AI assistants to
increase productivity
As we continue to expand the set of
free tools
available to bots
through this integration, we encourage all developers to
innovate
and
develop
useful applications and services for
businesses
on Telegram.
Developers can turn on
Business Mode
in
@BotFather
if their bot supports
integration
with Telegram Business accounts.
Receive Payments
Bots can sell all kinds of goods and services on Telegram – to anyone in the world.
Telegram Stars
allow users to securely and effortlessly buy
digital products
via in-app purchases. In addition,
physical products
can be easily purchased through
third-party providers
that support integration with Mini Apps.
Try
@ShopBot
– or check out our dedicated guides for
digital
and
physical
products to build your own.
Create Custom Tools
Increase your productivity by creating bots for
specific tasks
– like converting files, managing chats or fetching today’s forecast. Users can chat directly with bots, or add them to groups and channels to introduce extra features.
Mini apps can generate media and files – that users can effortlessly share to
other chats
or a post
as a story
Integrate with Services and Devices
Mini apps can
seamlessly integrate
with third-party services, APIs and devices to instantly process and update information – like changing a user's
emoji status
when they start a game
or get in a taxi
By default, Mini Apps seamlessly integrate with Android and iOS, allowing users to add
direct shortcuts
to their device’s home screen.
Likewise, many popular platforms already have official Telegram bots, which allow users to comfortably access content in one app – or perform quick searches using
inline mode
Try
@GMailBot
@GitHubBot
@Bing
@YouTube
@wiki
and more.
Host Games
Developers can create both lightweight
HTML5 Games
and immersive
full-screen modern games
with support for
detailed motion controls
, location-based
points of interest
and dynamic
hardware optimizations
Try some of the games in the
@Gamee
library – or check out the
HTML5
and
Mini App
manuals to build your own.
Build Social Networks
Bots can serve as an intermediary to connect users based on shared interests, location, and more. Coordinate meetups, show local services, or help people sell second-hand items.
Users can place
direct shortcuts
to specific mini apps on the
home screen
of their devices – accessing services in
one tap
Monetize Your Service
Telegram offers a
robust ecosystem
of monetization features, allowing any bot to support its development with
multiple revenue streams
. Popular bots can passively earn income through
Revenue Sharing
from Telegram Ads, implement
subscription plans
for users – or offer
paid content
and
digital products
for
Telegram Stars
Telegram Stars in your bot's balance can be used to
increase message limits
send gifts
to users or
accept rewards
in Toncoin.
Promote Your Project
Bots can host
affiliate marketing programs
– giving developers a
transparent way
to quickly scale with organic growth from
user referrals
Affiliate Programs support custom
revenue sharing rates
and variable
commission periods
, allowing you to customize your offers and update your campaign over time.
To learn more and get started in just a few taps, check out our
dedicated guide
Anything Else
The possibilities for bots are endless – from simple scripts to complex mini apps. Whether you’re a beginner or professional programmer, you can create personalized tools with the help of the
Bot Platform
All Mini Apps you build on Telegram can be
highly customized
to fit your brand identity, including by uploading high-quality
media demos
and setting a custom
Loading Screen
with your own logo and color palette
How Do Bots Work?
For a detailed explanation of Bot Features, see
this guide
Telegram bots are special accounts that do not need a phone number to set up. Bots are connected to their owner’s server, which processes inputs and requests from users.
Telegram’s intermediary server handles all encryption and communication with the Telegram API. Developers communicate with this server via an easy HTTPS-interface with a simplified version of the
Telegram API
– known as the
Bot API
How Are Bots Different from Users?
Bots are able to process inputs and requests in ways that user accounts can’t, but there are several differences between a bot and a normal user.
Bots don’t have ‘last seen’ or online statuses – instead they show a ‘bot’ label in the chat.
Bots have limited cloud storage – older messages may be removed by the server shortly after they have been processed.
Bots can't start conversations with users. A user must either add them to a group or send them a message first. People can search for your bot’s username or start a chat via its unique t.me/bot_username link.
By default, bots added to groups
only see relevant messages
in the chat (see
Privacy Mode
).
Bots never eat, sleep or complain (unless expressly programmed otherwise).
Bot Links
Bot usernames normally require a ‘bot’ suffix, but some bots don’t have them – such as
@stickers
@gif
@wiki
or
@bing
Anyone can
assign collectible usernames
to bots, including those without the 'bot' suffix.
How Do I Create a Bot?
Creating Telegram bots is super-easy, but you will need at least some skills in
computer programming
Creating a bot is streamlined by Telegram’s Bot API, which gives the tools and framework required to integrate your code. To get started, message
@BotFather
on Telegram to register your bot and receive its authentication token.
Your
bot token
is its unique identifier – store it in a
secure place
, and only share it with people who need direct access to the bot. Everyone who has your token will have
full control
over your bot.
What Next?
We recommend that you check out our guide to
Bot Features
to see what you can teach your bot to do:
Detailed Guide to Bot Features
Full API Reference for Developers
Basic Tutorial: From @BotFather to 'Hello World'
Code Examples
Telegram
Telegram is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app with a focus on security and speed.
About
FAQ
Press
Mobile Apps
iPhone/iPad
Android
Mobile Web
Desktop Apps
PC/Mac/Linux
macOS
Web-browser
Platform
API
Translations
Instant View
About
Blog
Press
Moderation